Crossing-signal.



w. A. MESSE L P'. G. SANBQRN.

CROSSING .SIGNAL APPLICATION F|L.Eb'nov.1.1s14. N

' Patented July 24, 1911.

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f77/mm A from/5m Patented July 24, 1917.

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CROSSING SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED Nov. Ia. |914,

1,234,664; I Patented July 24, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TOIM/EYS w. A. HESSE L P. G. SANBORN.

CROSSING SIGNAL. APPLVl'cATloN FILED Nov. I8. 1914.

.patented July 24, 1917.

-4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES W m m l www Vsn Wea H S AG. r mW. www WP O auf@ A TTRNEKSWALTER ALEXANDER HEISSE,

oFALAMEnA, ANn PERCY GiLMAN sANBoRN, or ssn FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

cnossING-SIGNAL.

' Specication of Letters lfatent. yPatented July 24, 1917.

- .Application led November v18, 1914. Serial No. 872,755.

/ 1o all whom t may concern.' V

Be it known thatwe, WALTEn A. Hasse and Parier G. SANBonN, both citizensof the United States, and residents, respectively, of

Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, and SanFrancisco, in the county 'of San Francisco and State of California, haveinvented a new and lm# proved Crossing-Signal, of which'the fol-- lowingis a fulhfclear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements 1n crossing signals,'andparticularly toY signals used on railway crossings -for indicatingto pedestrians, drivers and other personscrossing a railroad track thecondition o f' the track, namely, whether or not a tram 1s approaching.l

Another object of the invention is to provide a crossing signal whichwill oscillate and which will be automatically lighted when inoperation,'the light andv the signal arm operating in` connection with agong or other sound producing device.`

A. further objectof the invention is to provide an improved andsimpli-ied conn` struction oscillating the signal arm and for` lightingthe lamps so that there will be a minimum number 'of parts not leasilythrown out of order.

'A still further object of the invention is to arrange a drivingmechanism for the swinging arm so that'the arm will begin its movementpromptly, and will cease its move- 'ment promptly, vthe various partsbeing locked when not in operation so that an accidental movement of thearm cannot take place.

In the accompanying drawingsl' Figure 1 is a side View of a signalaimand` support, and associated parts embodying the invention;

Fig. Q, is anedge vie of the arm and associated parts shown in ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through F 1g. 4.- approximatcly "on .line-f-S, the same 'being on an enlarged scale;

- Fig. 4.- is a sectional view through Fig. 3 on line ,ll- 43 l Fig. 5is a sectional. view through'Fig. 3 on line 5-5;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through Fig. 3 on line 6-6; y

Fig. 7 is a detailed fragmentary showing how the arm lights arearranged;

Fig. 8 is a detailed fragmentary sectional The casing l containsoperating mechanism view showing the arrangementY of hammer used in thegong;

Fig. 9 is' a diagram showing the general arrangement of the variousparts and the way current is supplied thereto as .well as the way thecurrent is turned on and off.'

Referring tothe accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates astandard of any desired kind provided with compartments 2 and 3 havingsuitable doors, said compartments being designed to receivethe batteriesand other necessary parts for supplying current to the mechanismarranged inthe casing 4f positioned on the arm` 5. Arm 5 and brace 6 aresecured to the standard 1 in any desired manner, as for instance bybeing bolted thereto. Arranged on arm 5 is a suit-. able sign supportingmember 7 which may contain any suitable sign for warning people crossingthe track oi possible danger.

as shown in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, and also carries the oscillatingarm -7 which normally remains vertical, as shown in Fig. 1, but which isdesigned to swing back and forth as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 whena train approaches so that a moving signal will be given somewhat on theorder of a agman'. In addition to having the moving member presented tothe eyeI lamp-8 will be lighted as well as lamps 9 and 10, whereby thearm 7 will be lighted and a beam of light will be thrown by lamp 8through the bullseyes or lenses 11 and 12. It is to be understood thatthe lamps 8,v 9 and 10, and arm 7, are intended as signals for personscrossr ing the track and not for the engineer. ln addition to having thevisual parts just mentioned, a sounding device is provided, namely, bell13, which sounds at regulerin- Itervals during the swinging of arm 7.Va-

rious forms ot' lamps may be provided, but preferably electric lightsare'used, and thel description of the device will be in respect toVelectric lights, though it is to be understood 100.

that other forms of lamps may be used without departing from the spirit`0f the-invention, as for instance oil lamps.

The detailed construction of the operating mechanism will beseen inFigs. Sto G to 105 which reference is now made. The casing Il isprovided with a comparatively thin shell at the upper part and acomparatively heavy base 14 at the bc'tom which may be of any material,as for :instance a piece of cast 110 metal having reinforcing ribs.Arranged on the base 14 is a framework 15 having a bracket 16. Thebracket 16 acts as a support for the motor 17 which may be of anysuitable type, and whichis connected to the worm drive 18 by 'anysuitable form of fiexible connection 19. A thrust bearing 20 is providedwhich will hold the worm 18 to its work so as to properly operate theworm gear 21 to which is rigidly secured shaft 22. Shaft 22 is supportedby suitable ball bearings as shown in Fig. 4, and in fact all ofr themoving arts are provided, preferably, with ball earings except thedriving rod 23 which is provided wlth roller bearings. The shaft 22carries a clutch 24 having a grooved sleeve 25 adapted to engage thepins 26 on the bifurcated arm 27, which bifurcated arm is pivotallymounted at 28. A spring 29 acts against arm 27 so as to normally holdthe clutch 24 out of engagement with clutch 30. Arm 27 is lformeda witha bar 31 having an armature 32 arranged at one end which is attracted bymagnets 33 and a pivotally mounted catch 34 at the opposite end which isresiliently held in place by springs 35 and 36 (Fig. 5) so that themember 34 may yield in either of two direct-ions. The bar 31 is providedwith extensions 37 and 38 for accommodating the springs and 36. Thecatch 34 is designed to tit into either of the notches 39 for lockingthe disk 4-0 against rotation. Disk 40 is rigidly securedto shaft. 4-1which is rigidly secured to clutch 30. lVhcnever the clutch 30 is inengagement with clutch 24 and shaft 22 `is rotated, disk 40 will also berotated and will drive the link 23. As the end of the link 23 connectedwith disk 40 moves in a circle the opposite end will be moved back andforth. and as the opposite end is connected with the crank 41, crank 41will be oseillated, which in turn will oscillate the shaft. l2 as crank41 is rigidly secured to shaft l2. Shaft 42 extends through suitableopenings in the casing Jr, and is supported by suitable bearings asshown .in

Fig. 5 so that the end may fit into side members 4-3 and 44 (Fig. 3).Connected withlthe extreme end of the shaft 42, which is hollow, arelamp sockets for receiving the lamps 9 and 10. Suitable hoods arearranged above these lamps so as to refiect the light downwardly andagainst the. arm 7. It will he noticed that-there is a lamp on each sideof the arm, and that lamp 8 shines on opposite sides of the arm so thata` person approaching from either direction will he warned. By thisconstruction and arrangement whenever current is turned on to themagnets 33, and to motor 17, magnets 33 will move armature 32 and theparts connected therewith as shown in Fig. 4 so as to clutch the clutchmembers 24 and 30, and to disengagc catch 34. After these operationshave been acintegral Y eomplished, the motor will start to rotate theworm 18, and will consequently rotate the worm wheel 21 which willresuit in the rotation of shafts 22 and 42 and disk 40. Upon therotation of disk 40 the connecting bar 23 will be operated and shaft 42will be rocked. The side members 43 and 44 of the arm 7 are rigidlysecuredv to shaft asshown in Figs. 3 and 9 so that 'when shaft 42 isrocked the arm will also be rocked. Simultaneously with the turning onof the current to the magnets 33 and motor 17, current will be thrown onto the lamps 8, 9 and 10. During the operation of the motor and theparts connected therewith the bell or gongl3 will be sounded. In orderthat this may take place cams 45 and 46 are rigidly secured to shaft 22,and are arranged to engage the pawl 50 during their rotation.

Pawl 50 is ivotally mounted at 5,1, and is normally lield in theposition shown in Fig. 6by a spring 52. lVhen either of the cams 45 or46 operate the pawl 50 the operation will be against spring 52 whichwill immediately move the parts back to the original position as soon asthe cam has ssed. A stop 47 limits the movement of the extension 48 ofpawl 50. The extension 48 projects through a suitable opening 49 in thecasing 1 so that' the head 53 and arm 54 (Fig. 8)4 may be arrangedexteriorly 'of the casing. A clapper or hammer 55 is pivotally mountedon head 53 and held in a predetermined position by spring 56 so thatwhen the extension 48 is raised and then suddenly' dropped the momentumwill cause the hammer 55 to strike the bell 13. The bell is especiallyconstructed, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to prevent the entrance of we.-teror any considerable amount of dust or dirt. The upper part isarranged with a hood 57, which hood has a face 58 covering the open partof the bell. `The face 58 is pro-,vided withan annular ring 59projecting into the bell but spaced therefrom. This ring is broken awayopposite the hammer 55 so that when the hammer works the same may strikethe bell directly. l

In arranging the wiring Asystem the same may be arranged in differentways, but preferably the current is led to lamps 9 and 10,

and also lamp 8 through the binding posts 60 and 61, which binding postsare connected to slip rings 62 and 63 through Silitable brushes 64 and65. The particular way in which' the various wires are arranged isshownmore particularly in the diagram of ,IFig. 9 wherein it will be seenthat whenever the magnet 66 is deprived of current g the lamps', motorand magnets heretofore described will be provided' with current frombattery 67. f

In operatlon when a train 'approaches the crossing and the wheels 68 ofthe first ear or locomotive pass the gap 69, the battery 7 0 130 will beshort circuited which normally supplles current to magnet 66, and thusholds the armature 71 open. .When magnet 66 is deprived of cur'rent bythe train short cir.

cuiting the circuit thereof, spring 72 will move the armature 71` so asto close the circuit through wires 73 and 74. Magnet 66' Y for wires 73`and 74 is closed, current will the magnets 33 and part to the slip ring62. Y

pass from the battery 67 to wire 7 5, binding post and will then divideand part go tg Current passing through slip ring 62 will pass fromvthence to wire 76 through a suitable connectingwire and from wire 76will pass the lamps 9- and v10, part passing through wire 77 to lamp 8.The current passing'to lamp 8 will return Vthrough wire 78 to' wire 79;and the current from lamps 9 and 10 will also pass to wire-79 and fromthence lto slip ring 63 through a suitable connecting wire. From slipring 63 current will pass to binding post 61, wire 81, binding post 82,wire 74, armature 71, wire 73, binding post 83, wiref84, binding post85, wire 86'back to thebattery 67.l Current passing from binding post 60to the magnets 33 will' energize thes'emagnets and will then passthrough wire 86 to the motor 17 and from thence back to binding post 6lto wire 87. From binding post 61 the current will pass through thecircuit heretofore traced to the source of current, namelyfbattery 67.

What We claim is- 1. In a crossing signal of the character described, asupport, a swinging arm arranged on said support, electrically operatedmechanism for operating said Swingin arm, a lamp arranged adjacent eachside o the pivoted end of said arm, a lamp arran ed ad# jacent the outerend of said arm, an means for simultaneously turningonelectrical-current to 'said electrically operated mechanism and to allof said lamps, whereby current will only be supplied to said lampsduring the time of operation of they signal 2. In a crossing signal ofthe character described, a signal arm, means including a rock shaft forswinging or waving said arm, au electrically actuated power member foractuating said shaft, said power member including a rotating member, aloekingmember adapted to engage said rotating member forlocking saidrock shaft, Aelectrically operated. means for disconnecting said lockingmember, said electrically operated means being supplied with currentsimultaneously with said power member, and means for supplying currentto said power member and to said electrically operated means.

.3. In a .crossing slgnal of the character described, a signal arm, arock shaft rigidly secured tosaid signal arm for swinging or waving thearm, acrank and pitman for rocking said rock shaft, a rotating memberfor operating said pit-man, a power member, means for connecting thepower member with saidrotating member, means for driving said powermember, alocking member-f for locking said rotating means, andelectrically operated means for disconnecting said locking member, saidelectrically operated means being actuated when said power member isactuated.

4. In a crossinfr signal of the character,v

described, a signal arm formed with av pair ofplates spaced apart, alamp arranged at the lower end of said arm between said plates, areflecting glass arranged adjacent each of said plates on opposite sidesof said lamp, a lampv arranged adjacent each of lsaid platcsnear theupper end thereof, a rock 4shaft secured to -said plates and supporting'the same, said rock shaft being designed to swing said arm, all of saidlamps moving withsaid arm, a motor, means for supplying current to saidmotor and to said lamps, a movable member for closing the circuit ofsaid means, `and mechanism associated with said motor and with saidshaft for translating the movement of said motor into a back and forthor rocking motion for said shaft. 5. In a crossing signal of thecharacter described, a movable signal arm, a shaft for supportin saidAsha t, a pitman for operating said crank, a rotating disk connected withsaid pitman for operating the pitman, said disk being provided withnotches, power means for rotating said disk, a pivotally mounted catchadapted to fit into any of said notches, a spring arranged on each sideof said catch for resiliently resisting the movement of the catch, amovable member for moving said catch toward and from said disk, andmeans for moving said movable member said arm, a crank for moving` awayfrom said disk immediately previous having a clutch coacting with saidfirst mentioned clutch member, an arm for moving said clutch on saidpower member into en- -ing said shaft, sai electric motor, a powershaft, a rotating gagement with said clutch member, a pivotally mountedpawl for actuating said arm, a spring for holding said pivotally mountedpawl in a predetermined position which will maintain thel clutch memberoutof engagement with the clutch, an electrically operated member formovin said pivotally mounted member against tie action of said spring soas to cause the clutch and the clutch member to engage a catch mountedon said pivotally mounted member, said catch being adapted to enter anyof the notches in said disk, means for causing said catch o yield whenthe same has entered said notches so as to yieldingly resist therotation of said disk, an electric motor for driving said power means,and means for simultaneously turning on current to said motor and to theelectrically operated means for throwing said clutch into and out ofoperation, whereby the clutch and clutch members are engaged and therotating disk is unlocked si-l multaneously with the application ofpower to said power member. p

7. In a crossing signal of the character described, a swinging arm, ashaft for supporting said Swingin arm, means for rockmeans including an1 ,2s/sees disk, a pair of clutch members for connecting said powershaft with said disk, and means for translating the rotary motion'ofsaid disk into a rocking motion, a pivotally mounted lever having an armengaging one of's'aid clutch members, a magnet for operating said leverin one direction for causing said clutch members to engage a springacting on Said lever for causing said clutch members to disengage whensaid magnet is denergized, and a locking member for said disk mounted onsaid lever and designed to engage and lock said disk when said lever ismoved by said spring, and means for substantially simultaneously turningon current'to said electric motor and to said magnet, whereby said diskwill be unlocked and said clutches will be engaged simultaneously withthe turning on of power to said power 'shaft. i V

In testimonywhereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER ALEXANDER Hrs'sr. rarer Gmini sANBoaN.

Witnesses Scorr SaMoNs, Jaimesv Loor.

